Environmental History
MCBQ’s history and mission have required the use, handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous material and petroleum products, including paints, solvents, degreasers, waste oil, fuels, pesticides/herbicides, and household products. Typical activities at MCBQ have included maintenance of aircraft, vehicles, and engines; fuel and oil storage and distribution; landfill disposal; weapons cleaning and repair, facilities maintenance, photo processing, medical and dental clinics; munitions operations; and water and sewage treatment. These activities have resulted in localized areas of potential or confirmed contamination of soil, groundwater, surface water, and/or sediment.
MCBQ was listed on the National Priority List on June 30, 1994. On February 4, 1999, the Navy and United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 signed the Federal Facility Agreement for MCBQ. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality did not consent to become a signing party to the MCBQ Federal Facility Agreement; however, VDEQ participates in the planning and performance of environmental response activities at MCBQ.
A total of 304 Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) sites have been identified at MCBQ and there are currently 26 open ERP sites (consisting of 7 Installation Restoration Program [IRP] sites and 19 Munitions Response Program [MRP] sites) as detailed within the table below. The IRP addresses releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants that pose toxicological risks to human health or the environment. The MRP addresses potential hazards from the Navy’s past use of military munitions.
| Category |
Number of Sites |
Explanation |
| Total ERP Sites |
304 |
Number of ERP sites including IRP and MRP sites (open, closed, and deferred) |
| Total IRP Sites |
262 |
Number of IRP sites (open, closed, and deferred) |
| Total MRP Sites |
42 |
Number of MRP sites (open, closed, and deferred) |
| Total Inactive ERP Sites |
278 |
Number of ERP sites including IRP and MRP sites that are closed or deferred to other programs |
| Total Inactive IRP Sites |
255 |
Number of IRP sites that are closed or deferred to other programs |
| Total Inactive MRP Sites |
23 |
Number of MRP sites that are closed or deferred to other programs |
| Total Closed ERP Sites |
232 |
Number of ERP sites including IRP and MRP sites that are closed |
| Total Deferred ERP Sites |
46 |
Number of ERP sites including IRP and MRP sites that are deferred to other programs |
| Total Open ERP Sites |
26 |
Number of ERP sites including IRP and MRP sites that are open |
| Total Open IRP Sites |
7 |
Number of IRP sites that are open |
| Total Open MRP Sites |
19 |
Number of MRP sites that are open |
Site Descriptions
For additional detail and information on the site background and descriptions for the ERP sites, please view the most recent Site Management Plan.